On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the head of the Luhansk region, Oleksiy Kharchenko, met with the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident to together honor the memory of those who saved future generations at the cost of their own lives.

The memorial events began with a minute of silence and the laying of flowers at the Memorial to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Kyiv.

People's Deputies of Ukraine from the Luhansk region, Maksym Tkachenko and Ruslan Horbenko, arrived to talk with Chernobyl survivors.

"You became a human shield on the path of invisible death. Courageously, step by step, you tamed the "peaceful atom", which the international community recognized as a catastrophe of the highest level. Unfortunately, this feat required superhuman efforts and cost the most expensive thing - undermined health and thousands of lost lives. 40 years are two generations that owe you their existence," Oleksiy Kharchenko addressed the participants of the meeting.

In a solemn atmosphere, he presented the Honorary Medal "For the Development of the Region" to Alevtina Fialkovska, head of the Luhansk Regional Organization of the All-Ukrainian Public Organization of Disabled People "Chornobyl Union of Ukraine", and the Honorary Medal of the Head of the Luhansk Regional Defense Council "For Merit to the Luhansk Region" to Mark Reutov, the liquidator of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident.

Another 11 Chernobyl survivors were awarded certificates of honor and Letters of Gratitude from the Luhansk Regional State Administration.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the liquidators asked the regional head and people's deputies questions that require immediate resolution: housing problems, selective cessation of food compensation payments, the need to purchase medicines for scheduled treatment in certain medical institutions, etc.

"Today, we address you with deep respect, dear liquidators. You did everything to save our future, and now it is our turn to take care of yours. Today, in 2026, we see our mission in ensuring decent social protection and due attention to each of you," noted Maksym Tkachenko.

"The parliament recently approved a pilot project to provide housing for IDPs, including Chernobyl survivors, the cost of which does not exceed UAH 500,000. The task of local authorities is to ensure that this housing receives the status of private property, not communal property, so that people can dispose of it directly," Ruslan Horbenko supported him.

In turn, on behalf of the liquidators, Alevtina Fialkovska thanked the regional authorities for their constant support and humanitarian kits, which were received by 212 Chernobyl IDPs throughout Ukraine.

A gift for all participants of the event was the art of teachers of the Siverskodonetsk Professional College of Culture and Arts named after Sergei Prokofiev - Natalia Skrynnyk and Maryna Yavorska, as well as the talented singer and actress of the Luhansk Regional Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater, Asya Snitko.